How to Secure Your Facebook & Instagram Accounts from Hackers: Essential Settings
Recently, a girl named Shreya shared her experience on social media (X) through a video. Just like any other day, Shreya was chatting with a relative on Instagram. She then received a message from this relative asking her to vote for a competition. Shreya attempted to submit her vote for help, but it didn’t go through. Following this, Shreya informed her relative about the issue on Instagram. The relative asked Shreya to send an email ID, saying that an OTP would be sent and she should provide it. After submitting the OTP, her vote would be counted. Shreya shared the OTP she received on email.
The next day, Shreya started receiving calls from her close contacts. They informed her that false photos were being posted from her Instagram and Facebook accounts. When Shreya tried to open her accounts, they wouldn’t open.
In reality, her Facebook and Instagram accounts had been hacked, and the person who sent the OTP posing as a relative was a hacker. According to data from the cybersecurity company ‘Surfshark’, 5.3 million online accounts were hacked in India in 2023, ranking 5th globally. Worldwide, a total of 299.8 million accounts were hacked, with the highest number of hacks occurring in the United States.
Therefore, in today’s work news, we will discuss how to secure your social media accounts. You will also learn how to:
- Identify if your Facebook or Instagram account has been hacked.
- What to do if your Facebook or Instagram account is hacked.
- How to check if Facebook has been hacked.
How to Check if Your Facebook Account is Hacked
If you suspect your Facebook account has been hacked, it’s quite easy to check.
How to Know if Your Facebook Account is Hacked?
There are various ways to know if your Facebook account has been hacked. Typically, you can identify this through the following signs:
- Changed Username, Email ID, or Password: If your Facebook account is hacked, the hacker has full freedom to alter your profile. Consequently, the hacker might change your username, email ID, or password, which could prevent you from logging in.
- Unknown Messages Sent: If you see messages in your Facebook chat that you did not send, your account might be hacked. Hackers could use your name to ask for money from your friends or send threatening messages, which could get you into trouble. Therefore, always check your Facebook and Instagram chat boxes.
- Strange Posts on Your Timeline: Strange posts on your timeline indicate that your account might be hacked. Hackers could make inappropriate posts from your account with the intent of damaging your reputation or harming your social media friends through links. If you notice such activity, be alert immediately as hackers might try to lock your ID once they gain access, preventing you from logging in.
How to Protect Your Facebook and Instagram Accounts from Being Hacked
To protect your accounts from being hacked, you can follow the methods provided in the graphic below.
How to Immediately Identify if Someone Successfully Logs into Your Facebook Account?
If someone logs into your Facebook account successfully, you can set up an alert in the account settings. This setting will notify you immediately if there is an attempt to log into your account.
Activate this Setting:
- Go to Settings and Privacy.
- Then, go to Settings and click on Meta Account Center.
- Click OK on Login Alerts under Password and Security.
What to Do if Your Facebook or Instagram Account is Hacked?
If your Facebook or Instagram account is hacked and you cannot sign in, take immediate steps:
- If Facebook Account is Not Logging In:
If a hacker has logged out of your Facebook account, visit Facebook.com/hacked. Enter the mobile number linked to your Facebook account. If this mobile number matches the registered number, Facebook will assist you in regaining access to your account. - If Instagram Account is Not Logging In:
If you cannot log into Instagram, go to instagram.com/hacked. Various options will appear, with the first option related to hacking. Click on it and then click ‘NEXT’. Check your email for an Instagram message and request a login link. After verifying your identity, your Instagram account will be restored.
